A DSLR deep sky Smörgåsbord

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

A selection of deep sky offerings captured with a modded 400D and Vixen VC200L from the dark skies of Griffith NSW

M20 - 33 x 5mins
http://www.astrobin.com/38691/

NGC3372 - 26 x 5mins plus 31 x 30secs
http://www.astrobin.com/38630/

M83 - 45 x 5mins
http://www.astrobin.com/38648/

All at ISO800

Critique welcome

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Really nice work, Richard

[whzzz28 (Nathan)]

Great results!

Your Vixen appears to be well collimated. Did you use Bob's knobs with it or the original screws?

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Thanks Laurie/Nathan.

Nathan - The scope was purchased from Guy Fleming (Doomsayer) who had replaced the OTA tube with a carbon fibre truss (similar design to the RCOS scopes) that now holds its collimation extremely well. Prior to the sale Guy confirmed alignment of the focuser and secondary with a Tak collimation scope. The primary was pretty close as well, but I was able to make some final tweaks with a star test when I first got it back home. Collimation of the primary is with the original screws with the push-pull setup

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Three fine DSLR images there Richard, congratulations, The M83 is great.

Great scope too, Guy is a talented individual who has made some pretty cool scope stuff over the years

BTW, I am surprised you haven't had more comment about your deep Cen A image ..perhaps it is my fault, I may have bored everyone because I posted so many versions and repro's during 2008/9 and that image was seen so often in so many places that everybody is sick of that galaxy now..or perhaps just the mention of my name did it

If so I apologise

Mike

[whzzz28 (Nathan)]

Originally Posted by rmuhlack

Thanks Laurie/Nathan.

Nathan - The scope was purchased from Guy Fleming (Doomsayer) who had replaced the OTA tube with a carbon fibre truss (similar design to the RCOS scopes) that now holds its collimation extremely well. Prior to the sale Guy confirmed alignment of the focuser and secondary with a Tak collimation scope. The primary was pretty close as well, but I was able to make some final tweaks with a star test when I first got it back home. Collimation of the primary is with the original screws with the push-pull setup

Your collimation really is great. Considering how annoying this scope is to collimate i'd have to give you an A+ on this one.

I'll get mine collimated one day... when the weather gets better.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

BTW, I am surprised you haven't had more comment about your deep Cen A image ..perhaps it is my fault, I may have bored everyone because I posted so many versions and repro's during 2008/9 and that image was seen so often in so many places that everybody is sick of that galaxy now..or perhaps just the mention of my name did it

If so I apologise

Mike

Haha no worries Mike. I'm happy to get any sort of feedback to be honest [especially from experienced folk such as yourself ], and it is fun to be able to share my work and track my improvements over the last year or so with whoever is interested to have a look